Chapter 5- Mission Zala
A/N: Revised…
Cagalli threw a purple, petal-shaped shuriken at the wooden pillar. She picked up the pieces of torn 'skin' and pocketed them. She moved towards the door and was about to open it when a voice asked about the supposedly dead Mistress Tsunomi's condition and informed her of an intruder. Cagalli mimicked her voice and replied him.
Knowing fully that she was unable to get out like this, Cagalli tore off the ruined mask of Takado and put on a fair-complexioned skin over her face. She replaced the messy black hair with pale purple locks that fell to her knees. She changed the blue contact lenses with grey ones. She changed into a yellow kimono that had little orange flowers at the ends and her red sash that was tied to the side. Cagalli exited the room and walked into the hall.
"Mistress, what are you doing out here without a bodyguard?" asked Takado who was obviously made to do cleaning duty as his bangs were all dusty.
"What are you implying? Is it that I am so weak, I can't go out and finish some business?" Cagalli replied coldly.
"No, of course not." Takado apologized. Cagalli made her way out of the night club and walked back to her mansion. Cagalli moved quietly into her room and changed. She congratulated herself on this job well done. Cagalli smirked knowing that Takado would be furious. Considering the fact of having the intruder escaping right under his nose. Cagalli fell asleep after this exhausting workout.
Athrun pulled his hat lower and looking nervously over his shoulder now and then as he walked into Cagalli' mansion.
"Is my secretary evil? Yes she is! I wonder why… Leave it to god to make secretaries evil… Is it to make poor employers… LIKE ME! Cower in fear? Damn, I owe her three thousand! This woman is EVIL! EVIL!" Athrun mumbled as he made his way towards his room. He saw a small opening of Cagalli's bedroom. Deciding to check on her, he knocked the door and moved in. Holding his breath as he saw Cagalli's serene face and listened to her rhythmic breathing as he noted her strong features accented by the soft moonlight. Her full lips looked so ever tempting as he pulled the covers over her when he saw her shiver.
Cagalli woke up and moved groggily to the bathroom. Refreshed, Cagalli wore black track pants and a white sweatshirt. She pocketed her keys and grabbed a towel on her way. She walked to the hall while putting on her sweatbands. Only to get surprised when she saw Athrun opening the front door.
"Cagalli?"
"Athrun?"
"What are you doing here?" they asked in unison.
"This early?" they said it together. They looked away in embarrassment.
"Well… You're going to jog right?" Cagalli asked breaking the silence as they walked through the gardens.
"Yeah… I thought girls like to laze around eating slimming pills when they get fat." Athrun joked.
"I could easily match you in a jog Mr. Zala." Cagalli said icily as she scowled.
"I take that as a challenge. If I win, I need not pay you and I get to make you work your back off. If I lose, I pay you two thousand more, which is, in your dreams. If we draw, I do nothing for you, vice versa." Athrun stated, putting his hand for a deal.
"Alright! I accept this." Cagalli said after some consideration and shook his hands to seal the deal.
"I will not lose to you Zala!" Cagalli said as they moved towards the park.
"Same here." Athrun said.
Athrun jogged ahead at first but was caught up by Cagalli. After seven around the park, Cagalli and Athrun showed no sign of stopping. After another thirteen rounds, Cagalli and Athrun stopped, exhausted.
"Lo… looks… li… like it's a draw." Athrun said breathlessly immediately after they stopped.
"Back… at… you!" Cagalli answered breathing deeply. They bought a hot dog and sat down chewing on their food.
"You have very good stamina." Athrun complimented.
"You are good yourself too! I was always involved in every sports activity at school so this isn't much of a strain." Cagalli lied. 'Imagine training martial arts and building up your stamina immediately after you turn seven.' Cagalli thought.
Finishing her hot dog, Cagalli started to walk back to her mansion. Athrun stared after her leaving figure. 'Cagalli Yula, you never cease to amaze me.' Athrun thought as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the cool breeze. Cagalli walked into her training room, which was kept locked at all times. Holding up her fists, Cagalli gave the sandbag a series of punches and kicks. Drinking deeply, Cagalli moved over and grabbed some darts from the weapons area. Breathing deeply, Cagalli focused her whole being as she threw the darts at the dummies that were about twenty feet away from her. Cagalli inspected her throws. The darts were right on target, the depth is just nice, enough to kill the victim without leaving a trace. She paused only to think whether to use a Naginata or her swords. Picking the Naginata, Cagalli held it properly and started to swipe around with it. The Naginata is famous for its graceful yet deadly sweeping movements. Swiping her Naginata upwards, Cagalli squatted down and swiped underneath. Jumping up, she let her Naginata land on the invisible enemy her full weight concentrated on it. Leaping behind, Cagalli put all her weight on her Naginata and sent it right at the enemy's neck aided with the speed she swung her Naginata. Twirling her Naginata, she stopped the movement making it seem so graceful and glared at the rest of the enemy. She sliced an enemy into half and swept another off his feet, giving him a stab in the heart with her weapon. Satisfied with her practice, Cagalli took a shower and relaxed on her couch sipping her hot chocolate. The distant smell of the flowers in full bloom calmed her mind and the classical music played on the radio relaxed her even more.
'Alright, business. Zala is getting harder to kill… God knows why… Am I doing this correctly?' Cagalli thought.
Flashback
"Combining the usage of both the psychological warfare and mind manipulation as weapons, a kunoichi could get in close enough to poison or kill the victim without leaving a trace using her femininity," Master Yakashi said.
"Imagine a young woman crying, and how it would make you feel. You'd probably want to try to help her, and maybe even offer her some assistance. This is just one example of how a kunoichi could trick someone into walking right into her trap, a very powerful weapon." Master Yakashi continued.
"Master, what do you mean our femininity?" a girl asked, praying that it would not be what she thought it would be.
"It means you could seduce your victim. The clothing worn by a kunoichi depended on the situation, maybe it called for no clothes, who knows?" Master Yakashi answered.
End of Flashback
'Combining the usage of both the psychological warfare and mind manipulation… using her femininity… seduce your victim… clothing worn depended on the situation… maybe… no clothes…' Cagalli thought in shock.
"Se…se…seduce…him? No…no…clothes?" Cagalli muttered, eyes twitching
-END OF CHAPTER 5-